Author

Alicia Lutes

Staff Writer Alicia Lutes is a corgi enthusiast from Connecticut living in Los Angeles. She loves Tina Fey, television, ugly things and really money cheese plates. Growing up, her grandfather frequently said, "you’re so god-damned good with words! You should do something with words with your life!" so she made it her quest to plaster her wordy witticisms across the Internet. She looks forward to retiring at the age of 80 and opening a fromagerie with a small army of wrinkly-faced and stumpy-legged dogs.

It's been 52 years in the making, but Barbara Walters may be ready to retire. According to a report from Deadline, Walters — a venerable icon of media and inspiration for female journalists everywhere — may be on the heels of announcing her departure from the airwaves, with a date of May 2014 currently being bandied about. Hollywood.com has reached out to a rep for Walters for comment, but had not heard back at the time of publication.
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The loss of Walters on the small screen will no doubt be a big one, as hers has been a career long considered a gateway for females in television journalism. Her career began in 1962, when she joined the staff of The Today Show as a writer and segment producer of women's interest stories for the NBC morning news program. She later became the first female co-host a news program when she manned the desk at Today starting in 1974, before doing the same as a co-anchor in primetime on ABC Evening News in 1976. Walters also became the face of popular primetime newsmagazine 20/20 for 20 years. In 1997, Walters made her return to daytime as the creator and co-host of The View — to say nothing of all those years spent talking to the year's most fascinating people.
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But Walters' career is one littered with incredible achievements. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has won multiple awards, including Emmy Awards, Lucy Awards, and a GLAAD Excellence in Media award. She was given the comedic nickname of "Baba Wawa" on Saturday Night Live by Gilda Radner — a satirization of the pronunciation of her name, as well as several lifetime achievement awards. To say nothing of the impact she's directly (or indirectly) had on numerous careers.
RELATED: Baba Wawa Has The Chicken Pox. Get Well Soon!
Rumors about Walters’ retirement first began in December 2011, when rumors swirled that she told President Obama during an interview break that she was retiring the next year. And with several public health battles on record as of late — she recently had a large fall in DC, as well as a hospitalization for chicken pox earlier in the year — which only added fuel to the flames of retirement talk. If talk of Walters' retirement are confirmed, this would be the second blow to The View in recent weeks, as it was recently announced that the only remaining original panelist (besides Walters), Joy Behar would be leavivng this summer.
Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes
[Photo Credit: Christopher Peterson/FilmMagic]
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Playing a musician on screen can be difficult. Especially when its as storied and revered a character as the late Jeff Buckley — a person who, even in death, has a fanbase that's beyond protective of and critical of all attempts to imitate the legend. I know, because I'm one of them.
Hearing the news that Lonely Boy himself — better known as Penn Badgley to all those who didn't frequent the world of Gossip Girl — would be taking on the role of a young JB in Greetings From Tim Buckley (one of two Buckley pictures in the works), fans were rightfully skeptical. How could a teen dream with a penchant for play-drama actually handle the beloved Buckley? His story was tragic, but more impressive still were his vocals: the man could sing the chastity belt off a medieval princess. All at once ethereal, emotive, sensual, unruly, and acrobatic, Buckley was more than just another dude with a guitar: he was a melodic racounteur rife with feelings.
RELATED: Penn Badgley Channels Jeff Buckley in NYC
Back in August we were treated to the first glimpse of Badgley's musical transformation. And we were...surprisingly (albeit apprehensively) impressed. And with this second clip from the new film, we are officially on board the Badgley train. Performing "Once I Was" — the first tune ever performed live by the younger Buckley, and written by the elder — during a tribute concert to the father he never really knew, Badgley's Buckley is spot-f**king-on. He hits riffs and digs deep into himself to find a version of Buckley's vocal hold so close that we'll take it. The boy's got chops, who knew, eh?
Check out Badgley's version of the song (and the original recording of Buckley himself) in the videos below.
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It feels safe to say that Badgley's musical performance (at least) is great, and will no doubt lead to many an accolade (and maybe even a bit more credit than he's gotten in the past) once the film arrives, putting him in an elite class of actors who got it right.
Greetings from Tim Buckley does not yet have a release date in the US, but follows the days in Jeff Buckley's life leading up to his first-ever live performance in 1991 in New York. How do you think Badgley handled the performance? Sound off in the comments!
[Photo Credit: Tribeca Films]
Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes
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Well gang, I think we can all agree on one thing: Mindy is the only one who can make anything happen on this show. How do the gang on The Mindy Project brush their hair, tie their shoes, or even wipe their asses without her? She mends friendships, revokes (and then gets back) a woman's new apartment lease, stops illegal medical practices, and even fixes grandma's pill box — and that's just during a seemingly innocuous 22-minute day! Is Mindy Lahiri's a story that of a superhero-modern-girl hybrid? I'm admittedly a little bit exhausted for her.
But of course our fair Mindy is a 30-something single woman if this is her life: she has no time to date when she's got her hands in all of the pies. Which reminds me! Ellie Kemper is here, and she's brought the baked goods. Oh yeah, and she's also trying to move into Mindy's apartment building (Single White Female, much?). Yep, that would be Josh's other girlfriend Heather (one of many, it seems). And while it started bad (Mindy lied, Heather threw a cake in Mindy's face), it ended neatly tied in a bow. Everything's great with everyone! Huzzah.
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And while we did see a new man in Mindy's life, theirs was a romance left in the past. Namely with Danny's friend Stevie (or Steven, as Mindy knew him) — also the guy that Danny was prescribing painkillers to on the DL. Uh, illegal much? Yep! Which is exactly the reason Mindy suggested that s**t needed to see itself right the f**k out of Schulman and Associates, something Danny agreed he would end.
So color the practice surprised upon finding out the froyo date ass-grabber's true identity! When Danny makes Min hip to this notion, she rightfully freaks out (wouldn't you second that emotion?) and demands swift justice: a call to the cops. Only...Danny's not so into that because he hasn't really actually told Stevie he'd been cut off yet (even though he promised). Enter Super-Mindy once more. Off the duo go (with a seasick Morgan in tow, for physical comedy's sake) over the river and through the streets thick with oohmahgawhuds and ahrehytmaahms.
RELATED: The Do's and Don'ts of Dating on 'Mindy': Before Seth Rogen Gets Away!
1. Do Make Peace With Your Enemies: Apologize for all of the kerfuffles.
2. Do Not Eat A Humble (And Potentially The Help-style) Pie: Unless it's razzleberry. In that case all bets are off.
3. Do Set The Mood With Music: Gotta make the people comfortable with some age-appropriate tunes.
4. Do Intervene When Times Are Low: Interventions show you care!
5. Do Not Serve Wine At An Intervention: This is more of a life rule.
6. Do Not Wear Michael Jordan Cologne: Not a good look, olfactory-wise.
7. Do Not Accept Dates From Random Strangers That Insult You and Give You Crap For Your Life Choices: This is a big one, actually.
8. Do Make Sure The Ambiance Is Right: You don't just break drug news over pizza. Never tarnish pizza.
10. Do Not Stay In A Relationship If It's Wrong: Everyone deserves love. Maybe even ticket scalpers (even though — and you should always remember this one, guys— ticket scalpers: you're the worst).
11. Do Protect Your Former Lover's Honor (If They're Worthy of It): Even if that means telling a personality-sound-seeming lie to your parents.
12. Do Make An Incredibly Timely Tilda Swinton Joke: True story, Mindy Project, I guffawed at the Lady Liberty/Tilda comparison. That was either done with a nutso turnaround, or was epically well-timed.
What did you think of this week's episode of The Mindy Project? Let us know in the comments!
RELATED: The Do's and Don'ts of Dating on 'Mindy': When You Have a Minute
Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes
[Photo Credit: FOX]
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As if we needed another reason to love HBO: two of the network's biggest shows came out in support of the battle for marriage equality today by adding their own twist to the pink-and-red equality images currently running the visual game on Facebook. Social media-savvy and progressive? Be still our hearts. We always knew you were the greatest uniter (and a lover and a fighter), television!
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Fans of Game Of Thrones and True Blood were treated to tailor-made, fandom-centric images in support of the ongoing civil rights battle on social media Tuesday (on Instagram and Facebook, respectively). The fangbangers-approved avatar image kept things simple with the addition of a couple sharp teeth, whereas those in the realm were treated to Lord Renly (well, in doll form since — spoiler alert for the way far behind — he's dead) being far more out and proud than he ever was while at King's Landing.
Check them both out, below!
Winter is coming. And so is equality for all!
Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes
[Photo Credit: Facebook, Twitter]
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Kanye West isn't an arrogant braggart, he's just misunderstood, and also maybe a literal martyr. You see, the excitement and glamour of the oft-grandiose thoughts of West are merely facts. When you're a Kanye West, you see, you're automatically a genius-poet-Kurt-Cobain-Picasso-Hitler-Walt-Disney-Michael-Jackson-Steve-Jobs-Emmett-Till-Jim-Morrison-Jesus type. This is just your cross (pun obviously intended) to bear in life. This is also why you have such a messiah complex, and probably partially why you're considering naming your album I Am God. Maybe it's not a complex after all!
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King of Modesty and Litotes, West has — according to the BBC — considered his true potential and importance to the world at large widely undervalued. Sure, it might be "half tongue-in-cheek," but c'mon, we know he's only saying that to play down his greatness — humility is a trait the common plebes find admirable in their mythical higher powers.
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So while this title might not be the final one, it's also not the right choice. I Am God really doesn't do West any justice — though it sure is better than some of the more paltry options he considered* like I Am King, I Am Emperor, I Am Dictator or I Am The Worst (hey, who let that last one get in there?!). If anything, it underplays his importance to America, Earth, society, humanity, and the universe at large. You need to go big, West — honesty is, after all, the best policy! How About I Am King of King of Kings or I Am The Ultimate Being or I Am Overlord? I Am Legend? (Wait, nope, Will Smith already has that on lock.) I Am Doctor Who? I Am Really, Really Ridiculously Good-Looking? I Am The Master? Or how about the simple I Am All Things?
Let's all just breathe a sigh of relief that this means there's no way he'll name his kid God. I mean, right?
Have any album title suggestions for West? Lay 'em out for us in the comments!
[Photo Credit: Venturelli/WireImage]
Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes
* ...and by considered we mean not, because they are made up.
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This is exactly the sort of carelessness that Gus was talking about in season two! Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston found himself in a pickle of a situation when his car got burgled last December in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to the ABC affiliate KOAT-TV, Cranston alleged that a shoulder bag containing an iPad and a script from one of the last episodes of the series was stolen from his car — hardly small potatoes to stumble upon if you're a crook, no doubt.
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But have no fear, because justice was semi-served (which is more than Hank can seem to accomplish) this weekend when the alleged perp was found. Court documents obtained by ABCNews.com revealed that a Cranston employee was contacted by a confidential informant (nobody likes a snitch!), who reported overhearing a man at an area bar bragging about finding "some type of laptop or iPad" and a script from the secretive series. Things took a turn towards the victorious on Saturday when Xavier McAfee was arrested for said burglary.
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There's only one slight, tiny, insignificant problem: the script is missing. Still. Someone go get creator Vince Gilligan some oxygen, because if we were him we'd be hyperventilating right about now. Something tells us that if spoilers from the end of the series leak, a broken window is going to be the least of Cranston's problems.
All I'm saying is this: Heisenberg, put the valuables in the trunk.
Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes
[Photo Credit:Ursula Coyote/AMC]
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Alien wars can be a total downer: defending the earth against those intent on destroying humanity is a serious business. Especially in the world of Ender's Game, the Orson Scott Card epic-novel-series-turned-movie coming out this fall.
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For those who were too busy during high school to actually do any of the required reading (I mean, that's why the 90s created Sparknotes, right?), the novel focuses on a wonderfully-named young boy, Ender Wiggin who is tasked with saving the Earth from yet-another invasion of the Formics (a race of aliens with a hive mind) — something humankind has barely survived twice before — thanks to his prowess on the genius front. A military mind is a terrible thing to waste, eh?
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The poster for Ender's Game focuses on the out-of-this-world element: showing young Ender standing on the edge of it all, looking down on earth and all he must protect. Take a look for yourself.
The film stars Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Harrison Ford, and Ben Kingsley, and blasts into theaters on November 1, 2013. Are you looking forward to Ender's Game? Let us know in the comments!
Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes
[Photo Credit: Summit Entertainment]
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Oh, Tony Stark — always such a modest one, aren't you? The world's richest superhero (played by Robert Downey, Jr.) is in the beginnings of the homestretch push for its blockbuster debut this May. Can you hardly stand it? While previous trailers or clips have highlighted the darker aspects of Iron Man 3, this one reminds us that, have no fear, the old Stark — brimming with his special brand of cocky genius — is still alive and well. Don't let all that dark self-reflection from the other trailers lead you to believe otherwise!
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Check out the quickie clip, below.
Robert Downey, Jr. returns to just one of his many movie franchises on May 3, 2013. This newest installment takes place in the months following The Avengers' epic Manhattan street battle, and focuses heavily on his quest to right the wrongs done by his latest formidable baddie, The Mandarin. It's an epic quest of rebuilding and retribution — fun for the whole comic book-loving family!
Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes
[Photo Credit: Marvel]
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Some would say that being square is anything but a compliment. When it means you've been transformed into Legos, however — the positive and just downright creative aspect becomes far more apparent. When a parody trailer is done right, it sends the Internet into a tizzy, and the newest subject of childhood toy adoration is J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Into Darkness: a mash-up of genres (toys and obsessive nerd culture) that feels especially apt.
Creators Antonio and Andrea Toscano have done the much-hyped sequel's trailer some serious justice — hilariously (and awesomely) rendering Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, and Benedict Cumberbatch into total blockheads. And the resulting 1:54 is surprisingly detailed and accurate — worth a peek at on a lazy Sunday evening if nothing else.
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Check out the creative (and crazy-accurate) take on the trailer here:
Mind you, Star Trek Into Darkness isn't the only film getting the Lego treatment: some of our favorite, epic action films from the past few years have gotten the toy treatment. Check out a round-up of a few favorites, below.
Man of Steel
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The Dark Knight Rises
The Avengers
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Quantum of Solace
What do you think of the Lego-ized trailers? Let us know in the comments!
Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes
[Photo Credit: YouTube]
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The magic of shooting three epic fantasy movies all at once: as soon as the first film bows in theaters, the next installment is right on its heels. And you know what that means: promotion, promotion, promotion.
Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey arrived on Blu-ray this week after quietly passing the $1 billion worldwide mark earlier this month. That could have been the sign of a lull for the successful Tolkein franchise, but to ensure Middle Earth fever while also reminding us that he's actually the king of the fantasy world, Jackson held a live-streaming event to reveal to fans the very first footage of his 2013 follow-up, The Desolation of Smaug. Jacksons' reveal was for privileged purchasers of the Blu-ray only (with no plans in place to post the coveted footage online), but Hollywood.com was on hand to check out the footage and hear what the director had to say about the anticipated sequel. No rest on the road to the Lonely Mountain.
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Sprinkled throughout the event were snippets from the upcoming film, though no cohesive trailer — that's saved for this summer, folks — as well as questions from fans and friends of Middle Earth. This, of course, included taped segments from Orlando Bloom, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Billy Boyd, Evangeline Lilly, Stephen Fry, Dominic Monaghan, and even Tolkein super-fan Stephen Colbert.
The newest footage revealed that a more extensive look into the backstory of The Necromancer — something new in store for the films versus the book. When asked if "The Necromancer [would] play a bigger role" in his version, Jackson was quick to quip "yes…but that's all I'm saying." The audience was then segued into footage of Gandalf and Radagast entering a dark, ominous, almost jail-esque cavern. The sequence is part of the "expansion" of The Hobbit that Jackson mentioned, which focuses largely on building out the story of The Necromancer, played by Smaug voicer and villain-du-jour, Benedict Cumberbatch.
The quick :30 seconds (if that) of footage opened on Gandalf seemingly on a quest of his own to find out why the sword Glamdring "got out into the world," only to discover that there's much more at play here — tying into this newer Necromancer storyline. The wizard Radagast appears (seemingly out of nowhere) and confusedly asks "why am I here, Gandalf?" There are doorways to the tombs where we meet the two wizards are covered with twisted and rusted ironwork: all doors to small rooms, destroyed. "This is not a nice place to meet," Gandalf stated, before Radagast followed up with the question "who's buried here?" Gandalf seems to take in all the destruction around him (the tomb/underground-looking prison is largely broken and destroyed), and explained that the destroyer of the cell/tomb spaces "would've been known only as a servant of evil." And when Radagast asked "who would break into such a foul place," Gandalf ominously stated "No one, these tombs were opened from the inside" before the scene cut away.
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There was talk of hot dwarves (we're not the only ones obsessed), the visual creation of Mirkwood, Bard the Bowman, aka "one of the really cool things about the second movie," and even a "not quite there yet" sneak peek of Smaug's CGI creation (he was getting a wee bit of a wing-expansion). While Jackson cited "the confrontation between Smaug and Bilbo" as the scene he's most excited to see play out on screen, he did acknowledge that middle films — much like Middle Earth itself — can be quite the challenge. "It is complicated to do a middle film," Jackson explained, answering a fan question, "but the advantage is … we have multiple story lines ... and we can start following multiple characters." A solid change up from the first, very-linear (storyline-wise) plot of An Unexpected Journey.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug arrives Dec. 13, 2013. An Unexpected Journey is out now on Blu-ray in both 2D and 3D versions.
Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes
[Photo Credit: Warner Brothers]
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